Bellum Africum 89

B. Afr. 89.1Caesar interim ab Thapsō prōgressus Uzitam pervēnit, ubi Scīpiō magnum frūmentī numerum, armōrum, tēlōrum cēterārumque rērum cum parvō praesidiō habuerat.

Meanwhile Caesar advanced from Thapsus and reached Uzita, where Scipio had kept a large quantity of grain, arms, missiles and other stores with a small garrison.

Note. Uzita: a town held by Scipio earlier in the campaign. magnum … numerum: with genitives of what was stored. cēterārumque rērum: 'and other things'.

B. Afr. 89.2Id adveniēns potītur, deinde Hadrūmētum pervēnit.

He took possession of it on arrival, and then reached Hadrumetum.

Note. Id … potītur: potior with the accusative again. adveniēns: 'on arrival'. Hadrūmētum: an important port on the coast south of Thapsus.

B. Afr. 89.2Quō cum sine morā introīsset, armīs, frūmentō pecūniāque cōnsīderātā Q. Ligāriō, C. Cōnsidiō fīliō, quī tum ibi fuerant, vītam concessit.

Entering it without delay, he took stock of the arms, grain and money, and spared the lives of Quintus Ligarius and Gaius Considius the son, who had been there at the time.

Note. armīs … cōnsīderātā: ablative absolute; cōnsīderātā agrees with the nearest noun. vītam concessit: 'granted life', i.e. pardoned. Q. Ligarius was later prosecuted in Rome, and Cicero's speech Prō Ligāriō defends him.

B. Afr. 89.3Deinde eōdem diē Hadrūmētō ēgressus Līvinēiō Rēgulō cum legiōne ibi relictō Uticam īre contendit.

Then, leaving Hadrumetum the same day and leaving Livineius Regulus there with a legion, he hurried on to Utica.

Note. eōdem diē: 'on the same day'. Uticam īre contendit: 'hurried to go to Utica'.

B. Afr. 89.4Cui in itinere fit obvius L. Caesar et subitō sē ad genua prōiēcit vītamque sibi neque amplius quicquam dēprecātur.

On the way Lucius Caesar met him, suddenly threw himself at his knees and begged for his life and for nothing more.

Note. fit obvius: 'comes to meet'. ad genua sē prōiēcit: the suppliant's gesture. neque amplius quicquam: 'and nothing more'.

B. Afr. 89.5Cui Caesar facile et prō nātūrā suā et prō īnstitūtō concessit, idem Caecinae, C. Ateiō, P. Atriō, L. Cellae patrī et fīliō, M. Eppiō, M. Aquīniō, Catōnis fīliō Damasippīque līberīs ex suā cōnsuētūdine tribuit circiterque lūminibus accēnsīs Uticam pervēnit atque extrā oppidum eā nocte mānsit.

Caesar granted it to him readily, both from his own nature and from his settled policy, and in keeping with his custom granted the same to Caecina, Gaius Ateius, Publius Atrius, Lucius Cella father and son, Marcus Eppius, Marcus Aquinius, Cato's son and the children of Damasippus; and at about lamp-lighting time he reached Utica and spent that night outside the town.

Note. prō nātūrā suā et prō īnstitūtō: 'in keeping with his nature and his policy'. idem: 'the same favour'. Catōnis fīliō: Cato's son M. Porcius Cato, later killed at Philippi. circiter lūminibus accēnsīs: 'about the time when lamps were lit'.